New Tesco threat as store closed

A Tesco supermarket was closed on Monday following the discovery of a suspicious package.

Officers evacuated the store in the Eastville area of Bristol and set up a 400 metre cordon around the site. Bomb disposal teams were also at the scene.

Police said the package was detonated safely at 11.15am.

The incident at the Bristol supermarket follows the closure of a number of Tesco stores over the weekend following a series of threats sent to the retailing giant.

Police are investigating who is responsible for the threats that led to the evacuation of hundreds of thousands of customers and the closure of 14 stores.

Witnesses claimed they were told of a bomb scare, while reports ranged from a financial motive to threats by the animal rights lobby.

Saturday had been designated a "national day of action" against Tesco by animal rights groups including Viva, which claims the store has been selling live turtles at outlets in China.

Officers from Hertfordshire, where the firm has its headquarters, said there was no link to any form of extremism but urged the public to remain vigilant.

They said: "Inquiries to identify those involved in a series of threats to 14 Tesco stores continue as affected stores have returned to business as normal.

"Each of the stores involved has been searched and given the all-clear and the company continues to work closely with the constabulary. The public are asked to remain vigilant at all times. There is still no reason to believe that the incidents are linked to extremism of any kind."